The West Chicago Garden Club

Our February speaker will be Bill Karges. Bill will cover all the basics as well as the details of growing successful vegetables such as:  soil preparation, sunlight requirements, garden layouts, fertilization,  planting dates, insect and disease control, much more and everything in between.

Bill worked for Pioneer Garden and Feed for close to fifty years until it closed in August 2022.  He was manager, chief botanist, and all around dispenser of relevant gardening advice.  We enjoyed his presentation on “Composting and Putting your Garden to Bed“ in October 2019 so much and are pleased to have him return.

Meeting Location: St Andrew Lutheran Church NE Corner of Prince Crossing & Geneva Road.

Meeting Time: 6:45PM Refreshments – 7:00PM Business Meeting – 7:15PM Program

Our January speaker will be Eileen Davis, Environmental Educator, Lake County Forest Preserves. Her program will be “Landscaping with Native Plants”. No matter what style of garden is your favorite you can  create it or enhance it using native plants.  Discover the benefits of designing native habitats such as  butterfly gardens and rain gardens.  Native plant selection and identification, habitat requirements, and maintenance will be discussed.

Meeting Location: St Andrew Lutheran Church NE Corner of Prince Crossing & Geneva Road.

Meeting Time: 6:45PM Refreshments – 7:00PM Business Meeting – 7:15PM Program

What does a Bur have in common with NASA? A Kingfisher with a high-speed train? In this fascinating talk, Kim White will show you many examples of when science and technology looked to nature to solve complex problems. Animal ambassadors: Axolotl, Dart Frog, Crested Gecko and hedgehog will accompany. This talk has received rave reviews every time it has been presented.

Kim has had a lifelong interest in the natural world. She spent 19 years associated with Brookfield Zoo’s Education Department as both a volunteer and employee teaching school groups. She is a master naturalist, a co-steward for the DuPage County Forest Preserve, education coordinator for the DuPage Monarch Project and avid gardener for both food production and habitat creation. Her summers are spent growing milkweed for the Monarch butterflies she raises from eggs and releases.

Meeting Location: St Andrew Lutheran Church NE Corner of Prince Crossing & Geneva Road.

Meeting Time: 6:45PM Refreshments – 7:00PM Business Meeting – 7:15PM Program

Visit the St. Andrew Monarch Pollinator Garden before our September meeting.
Bruce Blake will be be available at the St. Andrews Monarch Garden in front of the church along Geneva Road before our September meeting 6:30-7:00 to answer questions while you view the Garden.